Haymakers (Frederick Morgan)

Engraved by C O Murray after a picture by Frederick Morgan (1856-1927) / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

In tomorrow’s chapter of From Tolerable to Lovely, we are no longer at the ball. Therefore, I thought it would be a good idea to give you another image to hang the story one. As you can see from the first few paragraphs of chapter 3 below, Darcy, Elizabeth, Bingley, and Jane are on a walk in the country. They will be on a walk again in the final chapter as well, though they won’t be alone for all of that walk, which is why I have chosen to share the image above.

~*~*~

A well-worn path winding its way through the Hertfordshire countryside lay before Darcy, and a pretty lady walked at his side. This was not how Darcy had imagined his call at Longbourn going. He had expected to spend fifteen minutes to half an hour in the sitting room feeling very ill-at-ease and struggling to engage in polite conversation, which he hoped he might be able to turn toward things which were not merely common topics of conversation so that he could learn more about Miss Elizabeth.  

Instead, he had found himself standing in the sitting room at Longbourn for only five minutes while Bingley arranged to go for a walk with Miss Bennet with Darcy and Miss Elizabeth as proposed chaperones. Mrs. Bennet was so far beyond delighted to have Bingley showing such interest in her eldest daughter that neither Darcy nor Miss Elizabeth was given an opening to refuse being included in the walking party.

And that had brought Darcy to this wonderful prospect of fresh air, good exercise, and Miss Elizabeth’s companionship.

[From Tolerable to Lovely, a Teatime Tales novelette]

~*~*~

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Napoleonic Ball – Regency Dances: Cotillion and Reel

Welcome back to Wordless Wednesdays. As I start these up again after my summer break, the plan is to not post every week. I have not settled on a frequency yet. This week’s post goes well with both the first and second chapters of From Tolerable to Lovely since the story begins at the Meryton Assembly and this was the video I had playing on repeat while writing chapter 2’s dance scene. 🙂

~*~*~

“Do you dance, Miss Elizabeth?”

“I do when asked, Mr. Darcy.” She quirked an eyebrow and waited.

“My apologies, that did not come out as I meant.” Darcy gave a small self-deprecating laugh. “I believe what I meant to ask was, do you wish to dance, Miss Elizabeth?”

The half-smile that she wore twitched, and Darcy was sure that she was going to laugh, but she managed to suppress the urge. Her eyes, however, danced in merriment.

“Indeed, I do wish to dance. Did you have a particular partner in mind for me?”

[From Tolerable to Lovely, a Teatime Tales novelette]

~*~*~

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Screenshot: PMD Pinterest Board

You will recognize some of the images on this screenshot of my Pinterest board for Protecting Miss Darcy (PMD) because they are pins of the images I have shared here on Wednesdays. However, mixed in with those Wednesday images are other images and/or articles that helped me visualize what I was writing. (Like that pearl necklace or the stockings with flowers on them.) I’ll let you guess which two images on the screenshot above helped me with this week’s (final) chapter of PMD. 🙂 I think I will be pretty obvious. They are front and center.

~*~*~

He was gone and back so quickly that Georgiana suspected that the gift he held had been waiting next to the door.

“It is nothing overly extravagant, but I think it is fitting.” He opened the box he held in his hand, revealing a small flower pendant made of five diamond petals and a diamond center on a gold chain.

“Oh, it is lovely!” She ran a finger over it.

“That is not all.”

Her eyes lifted from their study of the beautifully delicate necklace he had presented to her to his face.

“Take the necklace.”

She did.

“This is for your hair.” He took a small bag from his jacket pocket. Then, he took the box from her hand and replaced it with the bag.

Georgiana peeked into the bag. “Is that…?” She could not believe what she was seeing. “A bee?”

[from Protecting Miss Darcy, Marrying Elizabeth book 6]

~*~*~

Marrying Elizabeth, books 1-5

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Two Men at a Table (Luděk Marold)

Two Men at a Table, Luděk Marold / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

I just had to share this picture because the gentleman with the pipe just looked like he could be a Lord Westonbury sort of fellow. 🙂 And it appears, from the expression on the other man’s face, that a bit of scheming might be taking place in whatever room they are in. (And a bit of scheming has taken place in our story. 😉 )

~*~*~

“Why are you here?” Darcy asked Lord Westonbury.

“To see to Alfred,” Richard answered.

“Does he need a guardian?”

“No,” Wes admitted with a grin. “However, you must know that Young Alfred is unaccustomed to being in trouble.”

“He is not in trouble,” Darcy assured Wes. “Mr. Langley will be well even if you are not here.”

“I am not leaving,” Wes replied. “I wish to see what I started to its conclusion.”

“What you started?” Richard laughed. “I think it is what Darcy started.”

[from Protecting Miss Darcy, Marrying Elizabeth book 6]

~*~*~

Marrying Elizabeth, books 1-5

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Young Lady Putting on a Pearl Necklace (Albert Friedrich Schröder)

Albert Friedrich Schröder (1854–1939) / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

~*~*~

“Which necklace will you wear?” Kitty asked.

“I thought to wear the pearl one.”

“This one?” Kitty held up a string of pearls that had a pearl pendant suspended from it and intricate metalwork between each stone.

“Yes, that was the one. Do you think it will go well?”

“I do.” She placed the necklace on the dressing table and ran a finger over the stones. “It is beautiful.”

“Thank you. Fitzwilliam gave it to me.”

[from Protecting Miss Darcy, Marrying Elizabeth book 6]

~*~*~

Marrying Elizabeth, books 1-5

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